1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in chasing
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of catching
Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Maye made good decisions on the day when his pass protection was giving him time and his pass-catchers were getting open and catching passes.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Napier was his favorite target, catching nine passes for 154 yards and a score.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
Kirk, logging more catching time than ever before, is perhaps the exception.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Maye made good decisions on the day when his pass protection was giving him time and his pass-catchers were getting open and catching passes.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
And Denver has a glaring hole in the middle of its defense without him in coverage, as Vance Joseph's unit continues to get shredded by pass-catching tight ends and running backs.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Napier was his favorite target, catching nine passes for 154 yards and a score.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
No one in the White House is in charge of leading the country through the potential next hit from an infectious agent, which could be more deadly than if somebody launched a physical war against us on our own shores.—
Alice Park,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Originally featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin, the song brought the crowd to a fever pitch, with its high energy and infectious beat closing out her set in true Cardi style.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Securing the Shield ensures the top seed for Philly and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs for a team that has quietly gone about a consistent season without grabbing much in the way of attention.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Without strangers lunging at her and grabbing her forearm.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That led to millions more people getting coverage, some of whom paid little or nothing, and more plans being offered.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Now, its most iconic silhouettes from the archive are getting a new lease on life — just in time to the brand’s 120th anniversary.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That suit, which Lukenbill’s attorneys Brad Carroll and Michael Laino filed July 11, was primarily concerned with stopping efforts by the city to limit occupancy at the bar.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Chappell Roan’s new hair color Based on reviews of the New York shows, KC audiences should expect show-stopping moments, a new hair color for the famous redhead, an emotional speech of thanks and perhaps a special guest.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The path forward But whoever wins, securing the party leadership is just the first step – and a host of problems await.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Phoenix ended the regular season on a losing streak but narrowly missed setting a franchise record for wins, securing the 4th seed in a tight race between the Aces, Dream, and Mercury.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For the first 330 days, Goldberg-Polin fought to save her son’s life, not knowing he was executed on day 328.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
That dominance, with Chapman often waiting in the wings, gave Cora the advantage of managing seven-inning games, knowing any lead was likely safe over the final two frames.—
Michael Hurley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Give them reasons to keep reading, don’t try tricking them into it.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Regulators argue Amazon broke competition and consumer protection laws by tricking customers into subscribing to Prime.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This might even account for the ways in which the Gospels portray Jesus as moving freely among the diverse economic and social strata of society, whether encountering Roman centurions or being invited to dine in wealthy homes of the time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
-
When the eye looks symmetrical, that often means the storm is not encountering anything to weaken it.—
William B. Davis,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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